The Elbow
Blessen Abraham
Jainy James
Naved Patel
The Primary Elbow Extensors & Flexors
 Elbow flexors
• Biceps brachii
• Brachialis
• Brachioradialis
• Weak assistance from pronator teres
 Elbow extensor
• Triceps brachii
• Anconeus provides assistance
What type of joint is the elbow?
 The elbow is a Radioulnar joint
 It is a pivot-type joint
 The radial head rotates around the proximal
 Distal radius rotates around distal ulna
 The angular ligament maintains radial head
in its joints
What is the degree of freedom for the elbow
joint?
 In supination it is 80 – 90 degree’s from neutral
 In pronation its 70 – 90 degrees from neutral
Articulation of which bones make the elbow
joint?
 The elbow is made up of the humerus, ulna, & radius
Draw diagram representing all the movement of
elbow joint and name the plane and axis of each
movement.
 All these movements take place in the saggital and
frontal plane
In what plane does supination and
pronation occur?
 Supination & pronation
take place in the sagittal
and coronal plane
What is tennis elbow?
 Tennis elbow is a common problem where the lateral
epicondyle becomes painful and tender. Usually
involving the extensor digitorum muscle near its origin
on lateral epicondyle. It is also known as lateral
epicondylitis and is associated with gripping & lifting
activities
The ligaments of the elbow joint
 Ulnar collateral ligament
 Radial collateral ligament
 Annular ligament
Normal ranges:
 Elbow flexion (zero to 150 degrees)
 Elbow Extension (150 degrees to zero)
 Supination (zero to 80 or 90 degrees)
 Pronation (zero to 80 or 90 degrees)
The ligament injured in hyperextension
of the elbow joint is:
 The ulnar collateral ligament
Elbow flexion is an example of
 Third class lever because the biceps brachii applies force at
the insertion of the radial tuberosity, the resistance is the
center of gravity and the elbow as the axis.
The Biceps brachialis muscle is
 The prime mover for flexion of the Elbow joint
 The biceps brachialis pulls at the insertion of the radial
tuberosity as shown in the previous slide.
Elbow Flexors
Muscle
Biceps Brachii
Brachialis
Brachioradialis
Origin
Insertion
Action
Innervation
Scapula –
Supraglenoid
Tuberosity;
Coracoid Process
Radius - Tubercle;
Bicipital
Aponeurosis
Elbow flexion,
forearm
supination,
shoulder flexion
and transverse
flexion
Musculotaneous
(C5 & C6)
Anterior
Humerous
Ulna -Coronoid
Process
Elbow flexion
Musculotaneous
(C5 & C6)
Humerous –
Lateral Condyle
Radius (Lateral
Distal) – Styloid
Process
Elbow flexion
Radial Nerve
(C5, C6, C7 &
C8)
Biceps Brachii

Movement

Elbow Flexion [1, 2 ]

Forearm Supination [1, 2 ]

Shoulder
 Flexion (Weak) [2 ]
 Transverse Flexion (Weak) [2 ]

Attachments

Origin
 Scapula
 Supraglenoid Tuberosity [1 ]
 Coracoid Process [2 ]

Insertion
 Radius
 Tubercle [1, 2 ]
 Fascia of forearm
 Bicipital Aponeurosis [1, 2 ]
Brachialis
 Movement
 Elbow Flexion
 Attachments
 Origin
 Humerous (Anterior)
 Insertion
 Ulna Coronoid Process
Brachioradialis
 Movement
 Elbow Flexion
 Attachments
 Origin
 Humerous
 Lateral Condyle
 Insertion
 Radius (Lateral Distal)
 Styloid Process
Elbow Extensors, Pronators and Supinators
Muscle
Triceps Brachii
Anconeous
Pronator Teres
Supinator
Origin
Insertion
Action
Innervation
Scapula –
Infraglenoid
Tubercle, Humerous
(Posterior) –
Superior to radial
groove; Inferior to
radial groove
Ulna (Proximal
Posterior) –
Olecranon Process
Elbow Extension,
Shoulder Extension
and Adduction
Radial Nerve
(C5, C6, C7 &
C8)
Humerus
(Posterior)- Lateral
condyle
Ulna (Posterior,
Proximal),
Olecranon
Elbow Extension
Radial Nerve
(C5, C6, C7 &
C8)
Humerus (Distal) –
medial condyloid
ridge, Poximal Ulna
(medial)
Middle third of
Radius (lateral)
Pronation of
Forearm, weak
elbow flexion
Median Nerve
(C6 & C7)
Supination of
forearm
Posterior
Interosseous
Nerve
(C5, C6, C7 &
C8)
Lateral epicondyle of Proximal radius
humerus, Ulna
(lateral) surface
(posterior)
below the head
Triceps Brachii
 Movement
 Elbow Extension [1, 2 , 3 ]
 Shoulder
 Extension [1 ]
 Adduction [1 ]
 Attachments
 Origin
 Scapula [1 ]
Infraglenoid Turbercle
 Humerous (Posterior)
 Superior to Radial Groove [2 ]
 Inferior to Radial Groove [3 ]
 Insertion
 Ulna (Proximal Posterior) [1, 2 , 3 ]
 Olecranon Process

Anconeous
 Movement
 Elbow Extension
 Attachments
 Origin
 Humerus (Posterior)

Lateral condyle
 Insertion
 Ulna (Posterior, Proximal)
 Olecranon
Pronator Teres
 Movement
 Pronation of forearm
 Weak flexion of elbow
 Attachments
 Origin
 Humerus (Distal)
medial condyloid ridge
 Poximal Ulna (medial)
 Insertion
 Middle third of Radius (lateral)

Supinator
 Movements
 Supination of the Forearm
 Attachments
 Origin
 Lateral epicondyle of humerus
 Ulna (posterior)
 Insertion
 Proximal radius (lateral) surface below the head